In a letter addressed to Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), its former President Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala has raised concerns about Sibal’s alleged lack of support for the common interests of SCBA members. Senior Advocate Aggarwala criticized Sibal’s decision not to endorse a recent resolution calling for a boycott of the Supreme Court Museum’s inauguration, set to take place on November 7, 2024.

Notably, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud today morning inaugurated the National Judicial Museum and Archive. The facility has come up in the vacant space where the Old Judges' Library used to be.

The resolution of which Sibal is not a signatory is signed by 17 of the SCBA Executive Committee’s 21 members, opposes the museum’s establishment in a high-security zone, and calls for a boycott of the inaugural function, arguing that the space should instead be allocated for a library and lounge/café for SCBA members. The resolution contends that such facilities would better serve the needs of bar members, especially given the inadequate existing cafeteria. Dr. Aggarwala highlighted that, as SCBA President, Sibal had a duty to lead the resolution but not only failed to initiate it but also refrained from signing it.

"The said resolution duly signed by 17 distinguished members of Executive Committee of Supreme Court Bar Association out of total 21 members of Executive Committee, have resolved that "as an equal stakeholder in the administration of justice strongly objects and is deeply concerned that, despite the unanimous resolution passed by the SCBA Executive Committee on 24/10/2024, whereby the SCBA EC requested that since the former judges' library was being moved to the Additional Building complex and the current cafeteria was insufficient to meet the needs of the bar's members, the vacant space be given to the Supreme Court Bar Association to establish a library and cafe/lounge for Bar members in place of the proposed Supreme Court Museum in the High-Security Zone of the Supreme Court's grounds, it has come to our attention that even though our aforesaid demand is still pending consideration, now a function for the inauguration of the Museum is being organized on 07.11.2024 at 10 am at the proposed vacant space," Dr. Aggarwala's letter reads.

Dr. Aggarwala asserted that Sibal’s initial support of a separate resolution on October 24, which criticized the Supreme Court’s new emblem and statue of Lady Justice, demonstrated a disconnect from SCBA members' priorities. According to Dr. Aggarwala, Sibal’s approach appeared politically motivated rather than geared toward securing necessary amenities for SCBA members.

"Therefore, the Supreme Court Bar Association resolves to boycott the said function and further reiterates its demand for allocation of the Vacant Space to the SCBA to set up a Library and cafe/lounge for Bar members and that further all major decisions concerning the Bar and Supreme Court Complex be taken in consultation with the Supreme Court Bar Association." As a matter of fact, being the President of Supreme Court Bar Association, it was your duty to move above said Resolution but what to speak of moving the said Resolution, you have even not signed the same as you are not interested that our members should get the facilities of lounge/cafe and library," the letter states.

Dr. Aggarwala also alleged that Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and the Secretary General of the SCBA had previously agreed to allocate a vacant block on the Supreme Court premises to the SCBA for the proposed facilities. However, the formal allotment did not proceed due to shifts in SCBA leadership. He urged Sibal to prioritize SCBA members’ needs over what he characterized as personal and political interests, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling the SCBA’s role as a key stakeholder in the administration of justice.

It is to be noted that in a resolution dated November 6, 2024, the SCBA Executive Committee (EC) renewed its demand for the vacant high-security space to be allocated to SCBA for establishing a library and café/lounge for bar members rather than a museum. Citing the inadequacy of the current cafeteria facilities, the EC resolution emphasized the bar’s need for a designated library and lounge space.

"Therefore, the Supreme Court Bar Association resolves to boycott the said function and further reiterates its demand for allocation of the Vacant Space to the SCBA to set up a Library and café/lounge for Bar members, and that further, all major decisions concerning the Bar and Supreme Court Complex be taken in consultation with the SUPREME COURT BAR ASSOCIATION,” the resolution stated.

According to the EC, the bar association passed a similar unanimous resolution on October 24, 2024, which has yet to be addressed by the Supreme Court administration. This earlier resolution expressed the SCBA’s dissatisfaction with plans to convert the former Judges’ Library space into a museum, arguing that the Supreme Court Complex should prioritize bar members’ needs.

The resolution was signed by prominent SCBA members, including Vice President Rachna Srivastava, Treasurer Sasmita Tripathy, Joint Treasurer Susheel Kumar Tomar, and Senior Advocates Arijit Prasad, Jayant Bhushan, Sanjay M. Nuli, Sonia Mathur, and Shobha Gupta. Other supporting EC members include Vikas Bansal, Nandini Gupta, Mukesh Kumar Singh, Ashish Kumar Sinha, Shashank Shekhar, Anil Nishani, Yogamaya M.G., Jyoti Prasar, and Rachna Gandhi.

SCBA

Sukriti Mishra